Yes they are :( there, even our chooks are scared of them as they are literally in plague proportions.

i had heaps here too i found they were grouped in masses on branches and on the grass, i made up some pyrethium in my sprayer and let them have it, they drop instantly and die fast, got the odd bee but nothing that would make the slightest difference to my hives, i killed a lot not possible to kill all because of the sheer numbers and area affected but i must have made some difference as i dont see many around now and bees are doing fine, re Neil